Mark Jan Too Old to Rock and Roll and Other Stories

OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY

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POCK ANP POLL ANP OTHEP STOPiES

TOO OLD TO ROCK AND ROLL and Other Stories Do you understand your parents? Do your parents understand you? you? It’s not always easy to be a teenager teenager as these three stories show. Greg plays in a rock band, is good at cooking, and tries to help his father after his mother’s death. What poor old Dad needs, Greg thinks, is a nice, kind, sensible friend friend - like like Valerie. Valerie. But Greg’ Gre g’ss Dad has other plans . . . Then we meet a girl who goes to have tea with a schoolfriend. But it’s not a visit that she could ever tell her mother about. . . And last, there’s Daniel, Daniel , who listens through the wall wall to the four students in the house next door. He never sees them, but he learns a lot about them . . .

OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY

Human Interest

Too Old t o Rock and Roll and Other Stories Stage 2 (700 headwords)

Series Series Editor: Jen nifer B assett Founder Editor: Tricia Hedge Activities Editors: Jennifer Bassett and Alison Baxter

JAN

MARK

Too Old to Rock and Roll and Other Stories

Retold by Diane Diane M owat

O XFORD

U N IV E R S IT Y

2000

P RE SS

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION

Too Old to Rock and Roll Invitation to Tea Party Wall GLOSSARY a c t iv i t ie s

:

Before Reading

a c t iv i t ie s

:

While Reading

a c t iv i t ie s

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After Reading

ABOUT THE AUTHOR ABOUT BOOKWORMS

TOO OLD TO ROCK RO CK AN D ROL RO L L

‘Why don’t you both stop it?’ Valerie’s voice said on the phone. ‘Well, Dad began it,’ Greg answered. ‘He called me a baby.’ ‘And you called him an old man. That wasn’t nice.’ ‘I didn’t really really mean it. it. He isn’t isn’t very very old, is he?’ Greg said. said. He remembered that Valerie was about forty herself. ‘No. And what about that piece from the newspaper about older men losing their hair? You put that up on the kitchen wall! You’ve got to stop it,’ Valerie said.

‘ Why don’t you both stop it?’ Valerie’s voice said on the phone. 2

Too Old to Rock and Roll

‘We need someone here to stop us,’ Greg said quietly. ‘I know,’ Valerie spoke softly now. ‘Well, I’ll be there at eight o’clock tonight. I’ll see you then, all right?’ Greg put put the phone down and a nd went into the the kitchen. kitchen. He looked at the piece from the newspaper about men losing their their hai hair. r. Nea Nearr it on the the wall wall there there was a piece of paper paper with Mum Mu m’s writing on it. Perhaps it was the the only thing of Mum Mum’’s in the house now. Dad took away all her things when she died. Dad Da d still still had a lot lot of o f hai hair. r. It was only a bit thin thin on the the top o f his head. And he did it differently differently now now.. It showed that that he was getting bette betterr after Mum M um’’s death. death. At first he didn’t want want to do any anything thing.. Greg watched him him in those first weeks. Dad D ad got up, read the the new newspa spaper per,, cooked cooked meals, went went to work but he was dead inside. When he was at work, Dad was Stephen Barber the optician. Perhaps there he smiled and talked talked and and was more like like a living living person. But he he wasn’t wasn’t like like that at home. Things were getting better now because of Valerie. She was a friend of Mum’s really, and was waiting to see Mum when when the unhappy unhappy policeman policeman came to the house to tell them about the accident. She lived about fifty kilometres away and had had a home home to go g o back to. But the the policeman policeman wanted to take Dad and Greg to the hospital and Dad turned to this stranger and and said, said, ‘Please ‘Please stay.’ stay.’ So when when the they y came back, she she was there. 3


And Christmas happened because of Valerie, too. Greg said nothing about Christmas, but one day Valerie said angrily to Dad, ‘And what about Greg, Steve?’ ‘He isn’t interested in Christmas,’ Dad answered tiredly. ‘Christmas was wonderful with Frances. Without her, it’s nothing.’ ‘Well, Frances is dead, but you and Greg are alive. If Christmas with Frances was wonderful, it was because she loved it. Can’t you keep alive something she loved? Can’t you do it for her?’ Later Greg said to Valerie, ‘Are you coming here for Christmas?’ ‘I usually visit my mother and father,’ she replied. But Greg knew that Valerie must come. ‘If Christmas doesn’t happen this year,’ he thought, ‘perhaps it will never happen again.’ ‘Tell ‘Tell me me abou ab outt Christmas with your Mum, Greg, Greg,’’ Vale Valerie rie said. And Greg Greg told told her her how he he and his mother always al ways put the the decorations on the Christmas tree together. ‘I’ve got all the the things things for for the tree in my room ro om,’,’ he said. ‘I hid them there when Dad took everything of Mum’s away.’ ‘Well ‘Well,, we’ve we’ve got to to be hard with him,’ Valerie Valerie said. said. ‘If ‘If we want to bring him back to life, we’ll have to be a bit unkind to him. Wake him up a little.’ And so, on Christmas Eve, just before Valerie arrived, 4


Greg and his mother always put the decorations on the Christmas tree together.

5


Greg came downstairs with the box of decorations for the tree. His father looked old and tired. ‘What have you got there?’ he said. ‘The decorations for the tree,’ Greg answered. ‘What tree? We aren’t having a tree. How could you—’

‘What have you got there?’ Greg’s father said.

6


T want a tree,’ Greg said. ‘I’m sure that Mum wants Christmas to be happy for me.’ His father looked round slowly slowly.. ‘It’s ‘It’s too too late to get a tree tree now,’ he said. ‘Valerie’s bringing it with her,’ Greg replied. ‘Shall I light the fire?’ * * * After Christmas life was easier. Valerie came more often and an d she stayed for for the weekend. weekend. They began began to call call the third bedroom ‘Valerie’s room’. Slowly, Dad was beginning to come back to life. He bought some some new clothes clothes too, and Greg was pleased about abo ut that. But perhaps the piece piece about abo ut older men losing their their hair wass unkind, Greg thought. wa thought. He H e took took the piece piece of o f newspaper off the kitchen wall, and wrote a note in its place. " I’VE I’VE GONE GON E TO BAND PRACTICE. PRACTICE. VAL VAL PHONED. SHE’LL BE HERE AT EIGHT. Then he put the dinner to cook slowly while he was out. The table was ready, with flowers on it, and everything looked just right. Greg usually cooked the meals. He was good good at it, and he liked liked every everythin thingg to be nice nice for his Dad Da d and and Val. The band practice was at a friend’s house, and Greg began to go there five months after Mum’s death. He just wanted to get out of the house sometimes, but he told Dad he was interested in music. 7


The band practice was at a friend’s house.

‘Music?’ Dad said, said, ‘or Rock and Roll?’ ‘Rock and Roll was in the 1950s,’ Greg told him. ‘It’s rock music these days.’ After the the practice that evening, evening, Greg Greg wanted to to get home 8


quickly. He wanted to hear happy voices and listen to the nice things that Valerie said about his cooking. So he said goodbye to his friends and hurried home. The light light was on in the the living room room when he arrived, and for a minute he watched from outside. Dad was standing alone in the room, with his back to the window, but Valerie’s car was outside the house. Then Valerie came into the living room, and his father walked over to her with his arms open. Greg went round to the back door very slowly. He wanted to give them more time together. He felt very pleased that that his plan was going well. well. He liked Valerie alerie a lot, and often told Dad that he liked her. There was no hurry, but but if one one day Dad and Val Valer erie ie . . . He would nev never er forget forget Mum, of course. Sometimes he thought that he could see her in the house or the garden. But he knew that Valerie understood this. When Greg Greg went in, in, they were sitting down again. again. There were a lot of o f flow flowers in the the room - red, pink, orange and yellow. ‘Valerie brought them,’ Dad said, smiling. Greg remembered Valerie’s beautiful walled garden with its bright flowers. It was warm there even in March. Did Valerie alerie want to leav leavee all that? He looked l ooked at Dad Dad.. Something Something was different. Dad’s clothes were new and he was wearing jeans jeans.. His fa fath ther er was wearin earingg jeansl jeansl And And he was smiling. 9


His father was wearing wearing jeans/ jeans/


His father father was Stephe Stephen n Barber again. He was was the brigh brightt and happy man who married Mum. At dinner Dad tried hard to please Valerie. In the old days Dad didn’t have to try to please please women. They all loved him him.. The two girls who worked with him at the optician’s loved him too. Greg asked his mother about this once, but she wasn’t unhappy abou aboutt it. it. She just just laughed. ‘Oh, yes, they they both love him,’ she said. ‘What about you?’ Greg asked angrily. ‘Oh, they think I don’t don’t understand understand him. him. I’m sure they’ll be happy if I fall under a bus.’ But it wasn’t a bus. She was driving her car when the accident happened. H Ho ow did the two women in the opticia optician’s n’s feel now? They were both young and beautiful. Valerie wasn’t young or beautiful, but she was right, just right. When he went up to bed that night, Greg left his door open and he could hear Dad and Valerie downstairs. They were talking and laughing together for hours. It was very late when they came to bed. j * * * So Dad was alive again. The next week he bought more clothes clothes for for himself and for for Greg. Greg. His new clothes clothes were were much much more fashionable than his old ones. And at the weekend he and Valerie went out on Saturday and Sunday. Greg watched from his bedroom window. When they were

11


getting into the the car, car, Dad Dad ran to open the the doo doorr for for Vale Valerie rie.. H e no longer looked like a tired old man, Greg thought. In his new clothes, he looked slim and young. On Wednesday Dad came home early and said he was going to a party. ‘It’s Yvonne at the shop,’ he said. ‘She’s going to get married.’ ‘A party?’ Greg said. ‘You won’t like the music, or the dancing. Yvonne’s much younger than you, and you don’t like my music. Is Valerie going?’ ‘Valerie? ‘Valerie? Of O f course not. I’m sure she’s she’s got got better things to do.’ Greg thought thought back to the the old days. Dad D ad and Mum often often went to quiet dinner parties with friends, but never to a party with dancing, with people who were twenty years younger. Greg didn’t like it. It was after midnight when Dad came home. * * * Valerie came as usual on Friday. Greg cooked the dinner and then he went into the kitchen to get some drinks ready for them. them. But when when Valerie Valerie arrived, Dad didn’t didn’t hurry hurry down to open the door as usual and Greg had to go himself. He took Valerie’s bags from her and they went into the front room. Ju Ju st then then Greg heard Dad D ad put the phone down in the the bedroom upstairs. After a while Dad came downstairs and went into the front room. Greg gave him some time alone with Valerie

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before he too took k the drinks drinks in. in. But when when he he went in, they were just sitt sittin ingg and and tal talk king. ing. ‘I was just saying that I won’t be here tomorrow,’ Dad said. ‘Well, not until the evening. I have to go to the shop. Sue phoned to say she can’t come in to work.’ But later Greg remembered the sound of the phone upstairs. ‘Nobody rang earlier;’ he thought. ‘Dad was making a call, not answering one.’

‘D a d was making a ca call, ll, not answ answerin eringg one.’

On Saturday morning Valerie said, ‘You’re cooking us a nice dinner tonight, Greg, so I’ll make lunch today.’ Greg watched watched her for a minute while while she sat at the kitchen kitchen 13


Greg watched Val Val as she sat sa t at a t the the kitch kitchen en table. table.

table, cutting up apples. It was a comfortable, friendly picture, he thought. Then he ran upstairs to his father’s bedroom, closed the door and phoned the optician’s. ‘Can ‘Can I speak to Mr M r Barber Barbe r please?’ pl ease?’ he he asked. asked. ‘I’m afraid he’s not in today,’ the girl answered. ‘Can I help you?’ ‘No, it’s nothing important, thank you,’ Greg said. But it was was important. important. It was. * * * On Sunday evening Valerie said, ‘See you next week.’ She was talking to Greg, but it was Dad who answered. ‘I’m not sure. Can I phone you?’ ‘Yes, of course.’ Valerie was a little surprised. Greg was 14

very very surprised - and at at the the same time, time, not surprised at at all. ‘What’s ‘What’s happening happening next week, then?’ then?’ he said said after after Valerie Valerie left. ‘Where will we be?’ ‘Here ‘Here . . . I don’t don’t kno know w.’ Dad wasn’ wasn’tt look looking ing at him him.. ‘Well, perhaps I won’t be here next weekend.’ ‘But I want to see Valerie next weekend.’ ‘Why don’t you go there, then? I’ll ask her, if you like. Perhaps she’s bored with coming here every week.’ ‘No, she isn’t.’ ‘Loo ‘L ook, k,’’ Dad said, ‘Val ‘Valeri erie’ e’ss done done a lot for us, she’s she’s a good good friend, but, well, she’s only a friend.’ ‘‘Only a ‘‘Only a frien friend d? But I thou though ghtt you you - and her her . . . ’ ‘No.’ *

Si-

15

Si-


Later Greg told his friend, Toby, about it. ‘Well, your Dad’s free now,’ Toby said. ‘He’s come alive again after your Mum’s death, and he wants to start again. And Valerie’s too old for him.’ ‘They’re the same age. I asked her.’ ‘Yes, but she looks older than him. I’ve seen her. He doesn’t want people to see him with someone like that. He

‘Oh, you you are clever,’ clever,’ she said. ‘I can’t cook anything.’

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can get someone better.’ The someone that Dad got was twenty-four and she looked looked eighte eighteen en.. ‘Oh, you are clever^’ she said to Greg when he cooked the dinner that Friday evening. ‘I can’t cook anything.’ ‘Why don’t you learn?’ Greg said coldly. ‘I won’t always be here.’ And neither will you, he said silently to himself.

I NV I TATION TO TEA

Rockingham Crescent was a street of tall houses on the top of our hill. We lived down the hill and couldn’t see the Crescent Crescent from our street. street. It was a place place which which people talked about but which we never visited. But when my parents gave me my first bicyc bicycle le and I rode rode to to the top of the the hill, hill, I saw saw that the Crescent was really there. The old houses stood high on the hill hill and and there were plants plants and flowers flowers everyw everywhere, round every door and window, on every wall from the tops of the houses to the ground. It was like a river of different greens, with here and there bright reds and pinks and yellows. I thought that it was one of the most wonderful places in the world. For a long time I just stood there and looked at it in the warm afternoon sunshine. There was nobody nobody around aro und and the only only sounds were were birds singing. singing. ‘It’s ‘It’s like the Gardens of Babylon,’ I thought. ‘I must come up here again.’ It was only five minutes up the hill, but I didn’t go back again for three years. * X * Patricia Coleman and and I began our senior school at the same time, time, but we were were in different different classes, so I didn’t really get to know her. But in our third year we were in the same French class. We began to talk sometimes and then to walk home 18

Invitation to Tea

Too Too Old to Rock and Roll R oll and Other Other Stories Stories

together. Pat always turned into another street, but one eveni evening ng,, when when we we got to the comer, comer, Pat said, said, ‘Have you got got to be home home early or would would you like to come home home with me?’ ‘Well ‘Well,, I’ve I’ve got got to be early early tonight,’ tonight, ’ I replied. I looked looked at the the street which she usually turned into. The houses were the same as the the houses in my my street. street. My My mother always wanted to know things like that. ‘Well, come tomorrow, then, for tea,’ she said. In those days, when a schoolfriend invit invited ed you home home to tea, it was a meal at a table, with bread and butter. When I told my mother; she wanted to know Pat’s address and what her father’s job was. Pat never talked about her father; so I didn’t know what he did. I knew he wasn’t dead, so I thought, ‘Perhaps he’s in prison!’ My mother took took some time to decide, decide, but, in the the end, she she said that I could go to Pat’s. I had to be home by half-past six. So, on Friday night I went home with Pat. While we walked walked through the streets, we were were busy busy doing doing our our French homework together. But, suddenly, I looked up from my book book and for for the first first time, time, I saw that that we we were were at the the top o f the hill. Just then Pat said, ‘We live round the comer; in Rockingham Crescent.’ I was afraid to look at the Crescent again after all this time, time, but everythin everythingg was the same. Perhaps the houses were a little little smaller than I remembered remembered them them,, but I wa wass older older and bigger now. The green and red leaves of the plants were

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Invitation to Tea

We were busy doing our French homework together.

everywhere, hiding the windows, but everything looked beautiful in the soft autumn sun. Pat’s house was the second one along the Crescent. But when we got to the front door, I saw that the front garden was full of old bicycle wheels and bottles and old boxes. And there was a broken window, grey with dirt. In the front

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garden next door I could see an old bed. I was very surprised. What would the inside of the house be like? I asked myself. The hall was dark and narrow. There was no carpet and there were old bicycles everywhere, some without wheels. Through Through an open door door I could see see a room, room, but it was empty empty and it had no floo floorr We We went went upstairs and I followed Pat into another room. It had a floor and a window and walls, and it was crowded with chairs, a table, a big bed, cupboards, clothes clothes - every everyth thing ing you could could think of. It was October and

This one room was Pat’s home!

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Invitation to Tea

it was warm, but Pat began to light the fire. The wood looked like pieces from the floor of the room downstairs. ‘Would you like some tea?’ she asked. I thanked her and she went to get some water. water. While While she she was out of the the room, I looked quickly round. There was a cupboard with some cups and plates in it, and a little food. There was another, bigger cupboard with a small bed in it, and through the window I could see down into the wild back garden. There was a little little wooden house there there - the the toilet. toilet. I began to understand. This one room was Pat’s home!

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Pat came back and put the saucepan on the little fire. It took took a long l ong time time for the the water to get hot. hot. When hen the the tea was was ready, Pat brought out a plate with four biscuits on it. We ate one each very carefully. Conversation was was difficu difficult. lt.

Pat brought out a plate with with four biscuits biscuits on it. it.

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Invitation to Tea

‘Have you lived here long?’ I asked. ‘About two years,’ Pat replied. ‘We’re moving soon,’ she went on quickly. ‘Mummy doesn’t really like it up here. We came here because of Daddy’s work, you know.’ She watched my face, but I was learning, and didn’t say anything. I was thinking about my mother, and all her questions when I got home. What was the house like? What did you have for tea? What does her father do? I couldn’t tell my mother any of this. It was beginning to get dark and it was difficult to see in the room. ‘Shall I put the light on?’ I asked. But at once I knew it was a stupid question, because, of course, there were no were no lights. ‘Oh, no,’ she said quickly. ‘It’s nice like this.’ It wa wass very quiet in the the Crescent - silent. silent. In my my street there there was always some some noise noise - voices, voices, shouts, radios, radio s, cars. ‘Mummy will will be back soon soon,’,’ said said Pat. ‘I’ll just wash thes thesee cups and things.’ Where was Mummy? ‘Shall I help?’ I said. ‘No thank you,’ she replied quickly. She went out of the room and down the stairs, and then I understood. There wass no water in the wa the house. She She had had to get get it from the street. street. Pat came back back with with the the cups. ‘What time did you you say you had to be home?’ she asked. ‘Half-past six,’ I answered. 25


‘It’s getting near that now, isn’t it?’ she said. We both knew that it was only twenty to six, but I was ready to go. ‘Yes. ‘Yes. Time for me me to go, go ,’ I said, and I looked looked round for my schoolbag. But just then we heard a door close. Someone was coming upstairs. I looked up and saw that Pat was really unhappy. unhappy. She She gave me my my bag, bag, and I could coul d see that that she she wanted me to leave quickly. But it was too late. The door opened and a woman came in. Behind her there was a little boy of about five. The boy was tired, the woman looked only half half alive. She stood sto od there there in her old cheap clothes, clothes, her face grey and empty. The face of a person who could no longer fight, or laugh, or hope. She was about thirty-five, but she looked like an old, old woman. She She looked at me for a minute inute or two and and then then she she spoke. ‘Why, Patsy, is this a schoolfriend?’ She held out a very thin hand to me. ‘How do you do?’ she said. She spoke nicely, like Pat. ‘How do you do?’ I replied, shaking the thin hand. ‘I’m sorr sorry y I’ve ’ve got to go. go. My mother. moth er. . . ’ ‘Yes. It’s getting dark,’ she answered. ‘I’ll see you on Monday, then,’ Pat said. When I went out, I heard Mrs Coleman cry, ‘Oh, Patsy! How Ho w could could you?’ ‘She’s my friend,’ Pat said quietly. ‘But to bring someone someone to this this place - and you lit the the fire! fire! Those were the last pieces of wood!’ 26

Invitation to Tea


I wanted to get away away as quickly as I could, but when when I was out of o f the the house I walked walked along along the the Crescent. Crescent. And I could see now that no one lived there. All the houses were dirty, dead, and empty. From down the hill I looked back up, and

I could coul d see now that no one lived ther there. e.

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Invitation to Tea

suddenly the Crescent looked like the Gardens of Babylon again, as beautiful as on that warm summer’s afternoon three years ago. *

sf-

*

‘You’re early,’ my mother said. ‘Yes. I’ve got a lot of homework,’ I replied. ‘Did you have a nice time?’ ‘Oh, yes. Wonderful!’ ‘Is it a nice house?’ ‘Lovely. At the top of the hill. I came back along Rockingham Crescent. Does no one live there now?’ ‘No. ‘No . Not for about about two years. years. It’s It’s a terrib terrible le place. place. They’ll They’ll pull it all down one of these days. But they were lovely houses once.’ I never went there again and Pat and I were not very friendly after that. I tried to be friendly still, but Pat wasn’t really interested. ‘They moved,’ I said, when my mother asked me why I didn’t go again. But it was some years before before I really really understood understood why Pat Pat Coleman asked me to her home that day. She wanted to be like other people just for once, so she asked a friend home for tea.

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PAR TY WALL WAL L

There will will be four four of them them.. Daniel decides this immediately; immediately; two girls, two men. Last year there were three men. They were very quiet and worked hard at their books. He didn’t see them very often because of the high wall between the gardens behind the houses. Daniel’s garden is very small but it’s full of flowers. The garden of the next house isn’t like that and the first words that Daniel hears this September afternoon are, ‘What a terrible place!’ It’s a girl’s voice, high and sweet.

Daniel’s Daniel’s garden is very very small but it’s full ful l of o f flow flowers.

30

Party Wall

‘Oh, it’s all right, Jenny,’ a man replies. Now the detective work begins; it is important to listen carefully. Daniel sits in his small back room by the open window, and through the open windows of next door he can hear the voices easily. He begins to know them. ‘Which room do you want?’ someone asks. A third voice. A second girl. ‘It doesn’t matte matter, r, but I want some sun.’ sun.’ Tha T hat’s t’s Jenny again. again. ‘Then you take this one at the back.’ ‘Next to me,’ Daniel thinks. He touches the party wall. On the the other side of of it is the the back bedroom bedroom of o f the the house next

31


The window opens beside him. She’s getting the sun already. Immediately he looks out of his window, but sees only her slim brown hand on the window-sill.

Daniel Dan iel sees only her slim brown hand hand on the wind window ow-sill. -sill.

‘Duncan, are you having the upstairs front room or the downstairs front room?’ ‘Downstairs. Nearer the bathroom.’ The window of Daniel’s small back room is only about a metre away from the window of the next house. When he and his family first moved into the house, Daniel thought that he could make friends with someone through these windows. But there were always students in the other house, not families with children like himself. He doesn’t know the name of the second girl and there’s 32

Party Wall

no one in the fourth bedroom yet, so perhaps there’ll be another student late later. r. ‘Anna!’ Duncan calls. So the second girl is Anna. si-

*

*

Because the house is on the corner, the front door opens onto a different street from Daniel’s, and he can’t see people when they come in or go out of the house. But the next morning he hears Jenny call from somewhere inside. ‘What time’s Russell going to get here?’ ‘His plane arrives at nine,’ Anna answers. So Russell will be the fourth student. » # » The quick way to school does not go past the house next door, but Daniel prefers to go the long way. He wants to walk past pas t their their front door. door. He comes back back that way too. N o one goes in; no one comes out. But Jenny’s Jenny’s window is open. Daniel goes upstairs. The house is silent. His mother won’t be home from work until six o’clock and his father until eight. He lies down on the bed and listens. Perhaps Jenny is lying beside him on her bed. There is only one possible place for the bed in these small rooms, so her bed will be by the wall, like his. A doo doorr closes noisi noisily ly.. Someone has come in. in. A voice voice calls, a man, not Duncan. ‘Anyone here?’ But no one answers him. Russell has come home to an empty house. Ten minutes later he goes out again. 33


The house is still empty empty when when Daniel goes goes out out to do some running, running, but when when he he comes bac back k two hours later there there are lights on. Duncan and Russell are in their rooms, and from the garden he can hear Anna’s voice in the kitchen. She’s looking for a bottle-opener and can’t find one. Then Jenny calls, ‘I’ll go next door and borrow one.’ * * * Daniel is just going to run to his kitchen to find a bottleopener for her when he hears Duncan’s voice, now in the kitchen kitchen too. too. ‘I’ve found one. In this cupboard.’ Daniel goes up to his room, sits by the open window, and listens while they eat their supper in the garden. * * * When the weather gets cold and the windows are closed, Daniel no longer feels that Anna and Russell and Duncan are near. But Jenny feels near, very near in the bed next to him. him. He can can hear her when when she she moves arou around nd her room. She She plays her her music music and sings along along with with it - not very very well. well. On Onee day, from the bottom of the street, Daniel sees a man in the yellow streetlight, outside the house. Russell? Duncan? He’s doing something to his bicycle, but he rides away round the corner before Daniel can get there. In early December there are a few warm days and the windows are open again. The others get angry with Jenny and shout at her because of the big electricity bill. 34

Party Wall

Daniel Dan iel sees a man in the yellow street streetligh light, t, outside the house. house.

‘It’s ‘It’s all that hot water for your baths - ever every y night!’ So it’s Jenny’s bath every night, when Daniel hears the water running. running. Duncan is the first to go away for the holidays. On Saturday Daniel sees a green car outside and that evening Duncan’ Duncan’ss window is dark dark and Daniel doesn’t doesn’t hear his his voice voice.. But Christmas is coming, and Anna and Jenny sing in the kitch kitchen en.. Russell begins begins to sing too and soon soon Anna and Jenny stop to listen to him. ‘Oh, Russell,’ Jenny cries. ‘What a wonderful voice you’ve got! Sing for us again.’ And Russell sings again. He must be a big man because he has a very strong, deep voice. 35


The next day Anna Anna goes too. t oo. It’s It’s the the last day of o f school school for for Daniel. In a week’s time time it will be Christmas. Christmas. Daniel’s Daniel’s father doesn’t understand why he leaves his bedroom window open in cold cold weath weather, er, and and his mother ask a skss why he he takes takes the longest way to school. Daniel doesn’t explain, and upstairs he opens the window that his father has closed, leans out and listens to the voices in the kitchen. ‘Shall we go out tonight?’ Russell asks Jenny, but Jenny wants to get ready to leave the next morning. Russell leaves the day before Christmas Eve and that night every window is dark. * * * It is deep winter when they come back. Daniel’s window is only open a little at the top. Soon after midnight he wakes. He’s sure that he hears a door close and there’s a light outside his window. Then he hears someone get into bed. It’s Jenny. She’s back! When Daniel comes home from school the next day, he sees sees a light light in Anna’s Anna’s window and in Duncan’s Duncan’s too. too. He goes goes into the kitchen, gets a cup of coffee and sits down to do his homework. In the next house he can hear a radio. It’s playing quietly, and they’re getting the evening meal ready. The front door opens and closes. Russell’s home again. One day day Daniel nearly sees Jenny. Jenny. She She forgets forgets her key and can’t get in. It’s raining and she’s getting wet. ‘Duncan,’ she calls, knocking loudly on his window. But it’s Russell who 36

Party Wall

One day d ay Daniel Danie l near nearly ly sees Jenny. Jenny.

hears hen hen Daniel hurries hurries to to get to to the front window window,, an and d just just sees her back going round the corner. A few weeks weeks later later a letter letter comes through through the door. door. Daniel brings it in and his mother opens it. ‘They’re having a birthday party party next door door on Saturday,’ she says. says. ‘They ‘They want to say sorry about the noise.’ ‘Whose party?’ cries Daniel. 37


‘Does it matter?’ His mother looks at the letter again. ‘Anna Sampson.’ Of course it matters. Daniel wants to know everything. Will they dance? Will Russell sing? Will the party go on all night? Daniel wakes at three three o’clock o ’clock in the the morning and a man’ man’s voice speaks in his ear. ‘Jenny, please. Why not?’ He doesn’t hear the answer, but a door closes and

A man’s voice speaks in Daniel’s ear.

38

Party Wall

someone goes away. Jenny closes the window noisily. * * * When the Easter Easter holiday holiday comes, Duncan Duncan is the first to leave. leave. The next day Jenny goes. Then Russell. Does he leave because Jenny’s gone? Anna stays. Poor lonely Anna, Daniel thinks. But she isn’t alone. alone. One day he sees sees a very good-looking good-looking young man ome out of o f the the house. house. Daniel stops sto ps feelin feelingg sorry for Anna. Anna. come One morning the green car is back at the door. Duncan has arrived. The young man has gone. Jenny is the next to come back. Then Russell. * 55- * In May the weather is hot. One evening Jenny comes up to her room early. Daniel leans out a little and sees her arm lying along the open window-sill. She’s smoking. Daniel didn’t know that Jenny smoked. Then he hears the others in the kitchen. ‘What’s the matter with Russell?’ Duncan says, and Anna laughs. Daniel goes along to his parents’ room and looks across to Russell’s window. It’s dark, but Russell is in there, alone with his music. On Friday Daniel is walking past the house and hears Russell in the garden. He’s standing below Jenny’s window and calling to her softly. Later Daniel hears voices in Jenny’s room. ‘I thought you knew,’ Russell says. 39


‘I don’t don’t know what I don’ don ’t want to know,’ know,’ Jenny replies. replies. There’s a long silence. ‘We haven’t got much longer;’ Russell says. ‘Go away,’ says Jenny. ‘I want to work.’ * * When will they all leave this year? July comes and one day Anna goes awa away y in a red red car with the the young man who came to stay at Easter. On Saturday morning Daniel hears Jenny shout at somedne somedne in her her room. ‘But you said said Wednesday!’ ‘Well, I got the date wrong,’ says Duncan. Duncan? Duncan? ‘But you must stay until I leave on Tuesday. You must! I don’t want to be alone here with him.’ ‘Then go out for the evening,’ says Duncan. ‘And you surely surely don’ don’t think he’s he’s going to to break your door door down in th the night, do you?’ Duncan leaves on Monday. His windows are closed. Jenny’s window is open but there’s no sound from inside the room. All evening Daniel hears the sound of very slow music from Russell’s room. Jenny’s light comes on at midnight. The next day a taxi taxi comes and takes Jenny away away for eve ever. It’s very quiet in Jenny’s bedroom. But later that evening, very late, Daniel hears a window open beside him. There’s an arm along the window-sill of Jenny’s room, but it’s a man’s arm. 40

Party Wall

There’s an arm along the window-sill ofJenny ofJenny’’s room, room, but it’s a man’s arm.

‘Oh Jenny,’ Russell says. ‘Oh Jenny, Jenny,’ and Daniel lies and listens to Russell crying himself to sleep on his first and only night in Jenny’s bed.

41

GLOSSARY Babylon Babylon (the (the Gardens Gardens of) a place place in Persia (now Iraq) more than 2,000 years ago, with very famous, beautiful gardens band a group of people who play music together electricity electricity power that comes through wires and can can make make heat, heat, light, etc. fashionable fashionabl e modern modern and popular popul ar invite invite to ask someone to your house for a meal, a party, party , etc etc.. lean to move move the the top half of your body forward forwa rd next door doo r the the house next to your house optician optici an a kind kind of doctor for the the eyes eyes who decides if you nee need d glasses party party wall a wall between between two homes homes in in the same building practice doing something again and again to get it right right rock rock and roll popul pop ular ar dance music which which began in in the 1950s 1950s senior senior school a school school for older boys and girls (about (about 11 11 to 16 16) slim slim thin, in a nice way

42

Too Old t o Rock and Roll and Other Stories

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES

Before Reading 1 Read Re ad the story story introduction on the the first first page o f the the book, boo k, and the back cover. How much do you know now about the stories? Match the people with the information. Greg / Greg / the girl / girl / Daniel 1

goes to a friend’s frien d’s place for tea.

2

listens to people peo ple through a wall.

3

’s mother moth er died in an accident. accident .

4

likes likes music and cooking.

5

is interested in the lives lives o f four fou r students.

6

is worried ab abou outt his father.

7

can hear the the people peo ple next door do or,, but ca can’ n’tt see see them. them.

8

keeps a secret from her her mother.

9

thinks Valerie is a nice, nice, kind person. person .

2 What is is going to happen in these these stories? stories? Can C an you guess? Circle Y (Yes) or N (No) for each answer. 1 G reg’ re g’ss D ad . . . a) joins a rock band. Y/N b) falls in love with Valerie and marries her. Y/N c) finds a young you ng girlfriend. girlfriend . Y/N Y/ N d) never takes an interest in anything. Y/N

44

a c t iv it ie s

: Before Reading

2 The Th e schoolf sch oolfrien riend d ... a) lives lives with with her her boyfriend, not her her parents. paren ts. Y /N b) lives with her her family fami ly in one dirty room roo m . Y/N Y /N c) has a mother who is is in prison. Y /N d) tells her her friend a terrible secret. Y/N Y /N 3 One of the the students stud ents in the house hou se next door do or to Daniel Dani el . . . a) is a thief. Y/N Y/ N b) is unlucky in love. Y/N c) has ha s a fight fight with anothe ano therr student. studen t. Y/N Y/ N d) kills another student. Y/N 3 Who do teenagers teenagers talk to about abo ut thei theirr problem prob lems, s, and who do they tell their secrets to? What do y o u think? Put this list in order under the two headings. SEC RET S

P R OBL E MS

1 A younge you ngerr brother broth er or sister 2 An older brother or sister 3 Their Th eir mother 4 Their father 5 Another person in their their family 6 A boyfriend or girlfriend girlfriend 7 A friend 8 A teacher teac her

45

ACTIVITIES

While Reading Read Too Old to Rock and Roll. Who Roll. Who said these words in the story, and to whom? Who or what were they talking about? 1 ‘We need someone som eone here here to stop us u s .’ 2 ‘C an ’t you keep alive alive something she she loved?’ loved ?’ 3 ‘Well, ‘Well, w e’ve got to be be hard with him .’ 4 ‘It’s too late to get a tree tree now no w .’ 5 ‘I’m ‘I ’m sure sure they’ll be happy hap py if I fall under a bus. bu s.’’ 6 ‘You ‘Y ou won w on’t ’t like like the the music, or the the dan dancin cing.’ g.’ 7 ‘ . . . She’s She ’s a good go od friend, but, well, she’s she ’s only only a friend.’ frien d.’ 8 ‘Yes, ‘Y es, but she looks loo ks older olde r than him. him. I’ve seen seen her.’ he r.’ 9 ‘ Oh, you are clever clever.. I ca can’ n’tt cook co ok anything.’ anyth ing.’ 10 ‘I w on’t on ’t always alw ays be here.’ here .’

Read Invitation to Tea. Tea. Here are some untrue sentences about the story. Change them into true sentences. 1 When the story-teller first first saw Rock R ocking ingha ham m Crescent, Cres cent, she thought it was a terrible place. 2 The front garden of Pat’s Pa t’s house was full o f flowers flowers.. 3 Pat’s Pa t’s family lived lived in three three rooms. room s. 4 Pat lit lit a fir fire with some wood wo od from a tree tree.. 5 The Th e two girls sat in in the da dark rk because be cause they they liked it. it.

46

a c t iv it ie s

: While Reading

6 The story-telle story-tellerr found it easy to make conversation. 7 After tea, Pat wanted wante d the the story-tel story-teller ler to to stay. 8 Pat’s Pat ’s mother mother wore expensive expensive clothes clothes and and looked young. 9 The Th e story-tel story-teller ler told her her mother ab abou outt Pat’s Pa t’s home. 10 After Aft er the the visit Pat and the story-teller were still still friendly. friendly. 11 Pat asked aske d the the story-teller home for tea because beca use she wanted to be different from other people. Read Party Wall. Wall. Then complete the sentences with the names of the correct characters. Anna / Duncan / Jenny / Russell 1

sleeps in the room next to D an aniel’ iel’s. s.

2

has a wonderful wond erful singing voice. voice.

3

uses a lot o f hot water and the the others shout at her. her.

4

a sk s

5

forgets her her key key one day and knocks knock s o n window, but it’s

to go out with with him him before before Christmas. ’s

who hears her her and lets lets her her in. in.

6

has a birthday party part y one Saturda Satu rday y night. night.

7

se n d s

away from her her room at thre threee o ’clock ’clock

in the morning after the party. 8

has a good-look good -looking ing boyfriend boyfriend to stay at Easter.

9

calls up t o

10

does do esn’t n’t want to be alone in the the house w ith it h _____ , and shouts a t

11

’s window in the the spring. spring.

cries cries i n

because he is leaving before her. her. ’s room roo m after she leaves.

47

ACTIVITIES

After Reading 1 In Too Too Old to Rock Roc k an and d Roll Ro ll,, Greg’s father spoke to his new girlfriend on the phone (see page 12). Put their conversation in the correct order and write in the speakers’ names. Greg’s father speaks first (number 6). 1

‘Sure, I’d love to. Shall we meet at the optic op tician ian’s ’s?’ ?’

2

‘Yes, ‘Y es, I have. I thought thou ght we could go for a drive, find find somewhere nice nice to e a t . . . Oh, just a minute— minute— ’

3

‘Well, ‘Well, would wo uld you like like to meet me for lunch?’

4

‘Fantastic ‘Fan tastic!! I really enjoyed it. Lo ok, ok , I wanted wante d to ask you, Pen Penny - are you free free to m orrow ?’

5

‘ OK. OK . See you then. then. By Bye.’ e.’

6

‘Hello ‘H ello,, Penny, Penny, it’s it’ s Stephen Barber Bar ber - Steve. Steve. We met at Yvonne’s party, you remember?’

7

‘Tom ‘To m orrow ? Yes, I thin think k so .’

8

‘Yes, ‘Y es, it wa was. s. Sorry, Penny, Penny, I’ve got to go. We’ve We ’ve got a visitor. See you tomorrow, about eleven, OK?’

9 10

‘Great. Y ou ’ve ’ve got my address, haven’t you?’ you ?’ ‘Hi, ‘H i, Steve. Steve. O f course cou rse I remember. It wa wass a good go od party, wasn’t it?’

11

‘Was ‘W as that your front door do or bell, bell, Steve?’

12

‘N o , I’m not working workin g tomorrow tom orrow,, so I can come to

your house if you like.’

48

activities:

After Reading

2 In the story story Invitation to Tea, Tea , what was Pat thinking and feeling? Here is a page from her diary. Use these words to complete it (one word for each gap.) all, always, anything, anything , call, could, father, fire, from, happened, her, homework, invited, life, like, mistake, nice, no, now, outside, want, water, while Well, Well, I did it. it. I can

a schoolfriend home for tea - if you

this this place ‘home’ ‘hom e’.. Linda and I often often do our

Frenc Fre nch h

together together,, and I thought w e

real frien friends ds - but I don’t do n’t think think t h a t

be frien friends ds .

She saw everything. She knows that we have _____ lights, lights, n o

in the the house, and that our toilet toilet i s

She She knows know s that we have to make a

.

with with pieces pieces of

broken wood ____ the floor. But she she didn’t s a y

. I w aite ai ted d

tea. I wanted _____ to say, ‘Oh, Pat, Pat, w hat’s do you have to liv li v e

she she drank her her ? Why Why

this?’ I wanted to tell tell h e r _____ _____

about it. She didn’t _____ to know. She just wanted to leave and go back to her _____ _____ , tidy home, with a mother and a , and a televisio tele vision n an and d a bicycle . . . I’m not going to make t h a t

again. I know I’ll I’ll

be different different from other girls. girls. But why why d o e s _____ have to be like this? Why?

49

activities:

After Reading

3 Daniel Dan iel didn’t did n’t hear everything everything through the party part y wall. Here H ere are three short conversations. Complete them with as many words as you like. February, in Jenny's room after the party R u s s e l l : Jenny, p l e a s e . Why not? J e n n y : ____________

it ’s three three o ’clock in the the morning, b u t . . . R u s s e l l : I know it’s J e n n y : ____________ R u s s e l l : OK, OK, I’m going.

May, in the kitchen D u n c a n : What’s the matter with Russell? A n n a : ____________ D u n c a n : In love? Who with? A n n a : ____________ Duncan: N

o

, I didn’t. And how does she feel about him?

A n n a : ____________

July, in the kitchen A n n a : Why are you so unkind t o Russell? J e n n y : ____________ A n n a : Well, tell him that you don’t love him. J e n n y : ____________ A n n a : A nd w hat did he say? J e n n y : ____________ A n n a : Breaking his heart? Poor old Russell!

50

a c t iv it ie s

: After Reading

4 Perhaps this is is what some som e of o f the characte cha racters rs in the stories were thinking. Which six characters are they, and what is happening in the story at this moment? 1 ‘ Oh no, she’s brought someone home! How could cou ld she she do that? I didn’t want anyone to know we lived like this. And the the wood - she’s used the the last pieces!’ 2 ‘The ‘Th e poor poo r boy’s boy ’s just sitting sitting there, there, watching me. me. He looks so worried. Perhaps he knows that his father never goes to work w ork in jeans. But I w on’t on ’t say anything - I’ll just get him a nice lunch . . .’ 3 ‘She thinks I’ve I’ve got a wonderful voice! She’s She’ s beginning to like me, I’m sure of it. Tomorrow it’ll be just her and me in the house. Perhaps she’ll come out with me . . .’ 4 ‘It’s ‘I t’s a lovel lovely y house, but b ut I d on ’t think his son likes likes me very much. He’s giving me really angry looks! It’s lucky he can cook, because I can’t, but I hope he gets more friendly soon . . .’ 5 ‘What ‘W hat’s ’s that? There Th ere’s ’s someone som eone calling my my name in in the the garden . . . Oh no, it’s him again! Why can’t he leave me alone? I’ve got to tell him I’m just not interested . . .’ 6 ‘She’ ‘S he’ss back early. It’s only only six o’clock. o ’clock. She says she had a nice time, but why did she leave early? I’ll try and find out more later, when she’s done her homework . . .’

51

a c t iv it ie s

: After Reading

5 Complete Compl ete this this word word puzzle with words words from the the stories. stories. (All (All the words go down.) 1 A group grou p of o f people peo ple who play music m usic together. (4) 2 The Th e ‘job ‘jo b ’ o f Jenny, Jenn y, Russell, Ru ssell, Anna and Duncan. Duncan . (7) (7) 3 T o get hot water, wate r, Pat puts pu ts this on the the fire fire.. (8) 4 M odern oder n and popular pop ular.. (1 (11) 5 Power that comes through wires to make heat and light light.. ( 11)

6 Blue trousers, popu po pular lar with with young people. (5) 7 Green things that tha t grow gro w in in the groun gro und. d. (6) 8 Somethin Some thingg to eat with a cup o f tea or coffee. (7) 9 G reg’ re g’ss band plays this this kind o f music. (4) 10 T o ask someone som eone to come to your you r home. (6) 11 The Th e piece o f w ood oo d at the the bottom bot tom o f a window. (10) 11 4

5

8

2 1

7 3 6 9

52

10

\

activities:

After Reading

6 Look Loo k again a gain at your completed completed crossword. crossword . Can you find find the the hidden word going across? Here are three clues for this word. Choose and tick the best one. 1 Somethin Som ethingg that you give to a friend on their their birthday. birth day. 2 A special special food foo d that people eat at Christmas. 3 Beautiful things things that go on a Christm Chris tmas as tree tree..

7 Here are some new titles titles for for the the three storie stories. s. Which titles titles go with which stories? Some can go with more than one story. Which are they? On the the Other Side Side

Love M akes ake s Trouble Tro uble

Life after Death

Like Other People People

A Difficult Visit

The Th e Arm on the the Window-Sill

The Schoolfri Schoolfriend end

Worrying Worrying About Abo ut Dad

The Girlfriend

Other People’ Peop le’ss Secrets Secrets

Listening to Life

Home Ho me

8 Do you agree or disagre dis agreee with these sentences? sentences? Explain Explain why. why. 1 G reg’s reg ’s D ad was wa s a bad father father but but Greg Gre g wa wass a kind and and helpful son. 2 Pat’s Pat’ s schoolfriend wa wass right right not to ask questions, because saying the wrong thing can hurt people. 3 Daniel was wrong wro ng to listen listen to other other peop pe ople’ le’ss secrets through the party wall.

53

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jan (Janet Marjorie) Mark was born in 1943 in Hertfordshire, England. She studied art and design, and was an art teacher for several years before she became a writer. She now lives in Oxford, and often visits schools, libraries, and colleges to talk about writing and to give workshops. She is very interested in the teaching of English and does a lot of work with students and teachers on the uses of fiction in the classroom. Jan Mark’s first book was Thunder and Lightnings (1976), which won the Carnegie Medal (an important prize for the best children’s book of the year). Other titles include The Ennead (1978), The Dead Letter Box (1982), Trouble HalfWay (1985), Finders Losers (1990), and A Worm's Eye View (1994). She has written picture books, novels, plays, and television plays, and her books have won several prizes, including a second Carnegie Medal in 1983 for Handles. The three stories in this book come from her short-story collection A Can o f Worm Wormss (1990). Readers of all ages enjoy enjoy Ja Jan n M ark’ ar k’ss stories. stories. She herself herself has said: ‘I write about children, but I don’t mind who reads the book bo oks.’ s.’ Many of o f her her stories stories are about abou t frien friends ds - making friends, losing losin g friends, learning learni ng to live live with with friends - and her her books are admired for her deep understanding of children and teenagers, and the funny, difficult, and painful things that happen in their lives.

,

54

ABOUT BOOKWORMS O X FO R D BO O K W O RM S L IB R A R Y Classics • True Stories • Fanta Fantasy sy & Horror • Horror • Human Interest Crime Crime & Mystery Mystery • Thriller Thriller & Adventure The

oxford

bookworms library

offers a wide range of original and

adapted stories, both classic and modern, which take learners from elementary to advanced level through six carefully graded language stages: Stage 1 (400 headwords)

Stage 4 (1400 (1400 headwords) headw ords)

Stage 2 (700 headwords)

headw ords) Stage 5 (1800 headwords)



More than fifty titles are also available on cassette, and there are many titles at Stages 1 to 4 which are specially recommended for younger learners. In addition to the introductions and activities in each Bookworm, resource material includes photocopiable test worksheets and Teacher’s Handbooks, which contain advice on running a class library and using cassettes, and the answers for the activities in the books.

Several other series are linked to the

oxford bookworms library

.

They

range from highly illustrated readers for young learners, to playscripts, non-fiction readers, and unsimplified texts for advanced learners. O xford Bookworm s Starters Starters

O xford Bookw orms Factf Factfil iles es

O xfor d Bookw orms Playscripts Playscripts

Ox ford Bookworm s Collecti Collection on

Details of these series and a full list of all titles in the library

oxford bookworms

can be found in the O xford Engli English sh cata catalogue logue s. A selection of titles titles

from the

oxford bookworms library

can be found on the next pages.

55

TOO OLD TO

POCK ANPp o l l

and o t h e r s t o r i e s

Greg Greg is a teena ger with a pr oblem - his father. father. After the the death of Greg’s mother in an accident, his father takes no interest in life at all. Greg tries hard to help him. His father is too old to to rock and r oll, of of course . . . or is is he he? These short stories by Jan Mark look at life, love, and friendship through teenagers’ eyes. Text adaptation by Diane Mowat Cover image courtesy of Image Bank/Tom Hussey

STAGE STAGE 2 • OXFORD BOOKWORMS BOOKWORMS LIBR AR Y • HUMA HUMAN N IN TERE ST Bookworms provide enjoyable reading in English at six language stages, and offer a wide range of fiction, both classic and modern.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

9780194229883

Mark Jan Too Old to Rock and Roll and Other Stories

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